24 Amazing Things To Do In Oaxaca, Mexico

This astonishing church looks like a house built of gold and history. When you enter it you will be stunned by its gold appearance and nice carvings.

The church is one of the most beautiful ones in the country as well as gazes the blend of Spanish and indigenous designs in Baroque structures. Not only is this an aesthetic setting; but it is also greatly valuable to this community as it serves as a site for many religious ceremonies and celebrations annually.

Make time for these things to do in Oaxaca Mexico.

This is a very old market, founded in 1894, and it is like entering a large Multiplex cultural activity. You can find almost everything here; tamales and tlayudas, fruits and vegetables, meat and cheeses, and sometimes even jewelry and chinampas pottery.

Delicious local foods such as chapulines (grasshopper) and chiles rellenos may be found in this restaurant. Moreover, you can taste some local non-alcoholic beverages such as tejate which is the pre-Hispanic maize tejate and cocoa.

The market is easy to locate, which is approximately a couple of blocks from the principal plaza in Oaxaca.

The beauty of this garden is not only in the plants they display here for the public to watch. It is to guide the viewer to absorb how the displayed plants are relevant to the people and the culture of the city of Oaxaca.

This garden contains hundreds of plant species, all of which are indigenous to Oaxaca. Some of these plants were obtained from various development projects and that made the garden unique for conservation.

Tours in the park are done in Spanish and English and you can learn about the different uses of these plants as well as their history. The garden is also highly sustainable: it uses rainwater and solar power as sources of energy.

The museum is housed in a lovely old convent adjacent to the magnificent Templo de Santo Domingo. As one of the greatest regional museums in Mexico, it offers more than ten thousand years of Оaxaca's history.

There are 14 halls inside with exhibits made by the representatives of ancient cultures: Zapotecs and Mixtecs. Among them, the Treasure of Tomb is fantastic gold ornaments and precious stones unearthed at Monte Alban.

It also shows the connection between these preexisting cultures and the present Oaxacan culture in aspects of art, medical practice, and cuisine.

About 70km east of Oaxaca City this site is popular for the natural features of travertine rocks which to start with resembles a waterfall. The site features two main formations: the Cascada Chica and the Cascada Grande.

The Cascada Chica has artificial pools that contain water that is cool and carries minerals that are safe for a bath. These are nice for swimming after having wandered around these places.

It contains calcium carbonate, magnesium, and sulfur has a peculiar yellow color, and is believed to possess curative properties. You also get panoramic views of the mountains and the valleys when in the pools.

Boulenc is another well-known bakery, cafe, and restaurant, famous for its quality bread and sweet products. Also known as Papa, Boulenc has quickly emerged as the food destination in Oaxaca.

This organization is probably best known for its sourdough bread that incorporates locally produced ingredients such as wheat from Nochixtlan and cacao cream from other parts of Mexico. You can have breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

It is also an attached bakery cafe where customers can also get bread, biscuits, and other bakery products to go. Apart from the kitchen, Boulenc offers more to its customers: a boutique hotel called Boulenc Bed and Bread and a provisions store, Suculenta.

Monte Alban was founded as the initial capital of Mesoamerican civilization and it has been part of the UNESCO list since 1987. This was an ancient city that was famous for things like pyramids, other structures such as temples as well as a ball court.

The site is located on a mountain and offers a magnificent view of the valley in all four cardinal directions. Tourists can also walk around the site; it has 172 tombs and many petroglyphs inscribed with Zapotec symbols.

Today, it is one of the most important and visited ruins in all of Oaxaca City Mexico, and provides a unique look into the political and social depths of the Zapotec civilization.

Mezcal is a kind of alcohol produced from agave and indeed, the finest mezcal originates from Oaxaca state. Tasting Mezcal requires that one goes through a complete round of the process of making the product.

You will get to some places known as palenques which are kind of small factories where mezcal is manufactured. Most of the tours lead you to family-run distilleries that offer you various brands of mezcal and also enlighten you on the traditional techniques that are used to make the drink.

For example, some of them go to the town called Santiago Matatlan, which is famous for being the world's capital of mezcal. During the Mezcal Distillery Tour, you can walk around the Ruta Caminos del Mezcal and try Mezcal.

A Temazcal is an indigenous Mesoamerican steam bath in which participants sit in a small circular structure over which hot stones are piled up to produce steam. This ceremony held by a shaman is meant to detoxify; in other words, to wash, purge, and cleanse individuals, interiorly and exteriorly.

It is a process of cleaning our inner self and our spirit as well as getting close to the natural environment as much as possible. The ceremony usually takes four courses and each of them takes about 20-30 minutes; between two courses, people are allowed to breathe fresh air.

Notably, the Temazcal ceremonies have been on the rise globally mainly acknowledged for their healing attributes.

This colorful event is celebrated on the 1st and the 2nd of November, but it is preceded by the evening of the 31st of October. The event of the day is when people believe, the spirits of their relatives come back to earth, and they prepare a beautiful table set with flowers, and lamps, and treat the spirits well.

Families celebrate the Dia de los Inocentes on November 1st with offerings for the spirits of children, then on November 2nd for the spirits of the adults. In Oaxaca, you can also see such rituals as muerteada in Etla when men wear costumes with mirrors and bells to lead the spirits.

This lovely theater was constructed from 1903 to 1909 and hosts orchestras, plays, ballet, and other performances; Oaxaca Symphony Orchestra performances are often free.

The architectural design of the theater is remarkable with the Renaissance style and imperial style of the theater hall. In its entire existence, this theater has served so many purposes for instance as a cinema hall, for boxing matches, and even as a graduation arena.

July is also perfect for visiting because you can watch Guelaguetza and other concerts if it is held at that time.

Xochimilco is the oldest district in Oaxaca with lots of renovated narrow streets and full of colorful murals. It is a region where the flowers grow especially because its name has an Aztec origin.

There you can try genuine Mexican cuisine and speak to local indigenous people. Jalatlaco is another cute neighborhood with bright-colored houses and interesting street art. It is found within proximity to the core business area and includes some chic coffee shops and regular stores.

Each of these neighborhoods provides a look at one aspect of Oaxaca's culture and history. Both neighborhoods may be conveniently explored on foot allowing visitors to enjoy a scenic walk to discover the history of Oaxaca.

Zocalo sometimes referred to as the Plaza de la Constitucion, is the central hub of the city bristling with history, culture, and activity. This lively square is located near famous sights such as the Oaxaca Cathedral and the Government Palace and is perfect for just observing life here.

There's always an opportunity to take a slow walk, taste some Mexican dishes such as tlayudas and tamales, or just observe people around. It is also a place where cultural fests, music, and dance are performed, which makes Zocalo one of the ideal attractions in Oaxaca.

This museum is an artistic wonder because it boasts colorful pieces of art done by artists in this region. It is located in the beautiful colonial architecture building of the early 17th century that enhances the beauty of the place.

In addition, you can find many paintings of Oaxacan traditions and culture as well as arts like textiles and vinyl. The museum provides public guided tours and organizes art classes, which are especially suitable for adults and kids.

The entrance fee starts from 20 pesos and makes the trip enjoyable for all guests.

One of the most enjoyable things to do Oaxaca City is visit the artfully painted city murals. These murals are painted across the colorful regions of Jalatlaco and Xochimilco and the historical regions of Templo de Santo Domingo.

They sometimes commemorate Mexican traditions, original peoples' values, or other social issues. New murals can be easily found just by strolling around the city or joining an organized mural sightseeing tour to find out more information about certain murals.

If you want to learn more about the art and history, or simply because you like the animated life of cities, Oaxaca's murals should not be missed.

The beaches of the Pacific Coast have recently been easily accessible through a new highway that has taken approximately 2.5 to 3 hours to access from Oaxaca City.

One famous place is Puerto Escondido, a quiet beautiful coastal town offering golden sand beaches and rather nice conditions for surfing. Must-see beaches include Carrizalillo, providing excellent conditions for surfing and snorkeling, or if you prefer a quieter beach Bacocho.

Getting to the beach is possible through a direct bus from the ADO terminal located in Oaxaca City or by renting cars for flexibility.

This colorful carnival occurs every July and is one of the most popular cultural events people have to witness. The term Guelaguetza translates to gift or offering in Zapoteco and is a time when people celebrate communal feasts of singing, dancing, food, and crafts.

You can watch folk dances, taste typical Mexican food such as mole, and taste an alcoholic beverage, mezcal. It also has a colorful parade called calenda where one can also see lovely outfits and large poetry figures called monos de calendar.

Also, there is an open-air market to buy handmade crafts originating from various provinces of Oaxaca as well.

Casona Sforza is a small-capacity accommodation that is based in La Barra de Colotepec, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico. It is famous for its constructivism style with a strong vernacular twist designed by Mexican architect Alberto Kalach.

The hotel has lovely exposed brickwork arches and high ceilings. It is nestled beneath mangroves and beside the Pacific. This is an opportunity to create a unique Casona Sforza concept of providing luxury services with a focus on environment protection and integration into the community.

There are eleven suites decorated in boho-chic style with facilities for local craftsmen and natural elements.

Museo De La Filatelia MUFI is an ideal place a person can ever visit especially when in Oaxaca-Mexico. This museum stands out because it houses another collection of surrealist art and a lovely covered outdoor area.

The museum is open every day, convenient with everyone's timetable. It is a great place to spend some time and get a break while also gaining some knowledge on what is displayed.

If you are interested in art or simply desire to find something new or interesting MUFI Museo De La Filatelia is a place for you. It is perfect for a couple of hours spent in the city while getting acquainted with its culture.

The villages are rather called the people of the cloud since the villages are located extremely high up on the mountains. Here, you can feast your eyes on unbeaten forest tracks for hiking trails, mountain biking, and even horseback riding.

The trails help one to get from one village to another and you get an opportunity to experience a diversity of ecosystems and beautiful terrains. Pueblos Mancomunados are special because they are self-managed by the locals themselves.

There are tourism companies in each village and they cooperate in taking people to experience the natural and cultural resource base of the country.

This colorful and busy market operates six days a week and draws thousands of traders and customers from neighboring towns and villages on Sundays. Tlacolula Market is one of the oldest running markets in Mesoamerica and is situated approximately 45 minutes drive from Oaxaca City.

It offers a variety of groceries right up to fresh meat and fish, and traditional Oaxacan food such as barbacoa and carne asada. The market is also famed for homemade specialty foods, clothing and textiles, and pottery and gifted items.

The environment, food, music, and of course the colorful clothing of the Indigenous peoples make it fun.

The Tule Tree or Arbol del Tule is the Montezuma cypress tree known as the largest tree in the whole world and is located in the town of Santa Maria del Tule. It is widely known for having the largest girth of all the trees.

This wonderful tree is a National Symbol of Mexico and its name is translated as Gran Abuelo, which means The Grandfather. The tree is very large and one can walk around the trunk and could be mistaken for cars if they were parked.

The tree is also called the Tree of Beings due to some of the figures that it forms, such as animal figures and other objects.

This particular workshop has earned its fame for creating exquisite wooden carved figurines or alebrijes. The town of San Martin Tilcajete where the location of the pottery workshop is situated is famous for its craft.

People can also get knowledge of how these special figures are made and buy some to be taken at home. It is also fun to watch the locals at work, especially the Indigenous people of Mexico especially those from Oaxaca.

In addition, San Martin Tilcajete is the actual town where a few of the characters from the Disney movie Coco are based, which is a bonus.

There are many climbing points in Oaxaca for beginners and intermediate and advanced climbers. There is for instance Hierve el Agua which is a best natural wonder site of bamboo-like striking limestone walls and formations.

Another great place is Monte Alban where you can climb with a background of tombs. New climbers may find flat slopes on San Sebastian Bernal and easily navigable terrain; however, thrill-seekers will find the overhang at La Cumbre de la Pena Roja.

With companies such as RockaCrew or NatureAll Experiences, you can attend guided tours.